Candidate name: Rep. Karen Bass State: California Bio: Congresswoman Karen Bass was first inspired to give back to her community at a very young age. Even before being elected to the California State Assembly in 2004, the Los Angeles native served her community as a Physician’s Assistant for more than a decade, even working as a clinical instructor at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program. In 1990, Rep. Bass founded the Community Coalition in South Central Los Angeles to fight for justice and opportunities for Black and Latinx residents. According to Rep. Bass, the goal of the organization was to “turn despair and hopelessness into action.” After transitioning to politics in 2004, rising to become the second woman to be speaker of the California State Assembly, Rep. Bass continued her fight in the U.S. House of Representatives. As a Congresswoman, Rep. Bass sits on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, and is a member of the House Judiciary Committee. For more information: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook